Bracelet for a timepiece

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a strand ( 10, 10′ ) of a bracelet for a timepiece, the strand ( 10, 10′ ) comprising a plurality of links ( 14 ) articulated relative to one another and a flexible strip ( 23 ) which is disposed so as to be connected to each of said links ( 14 ). The links ( 14 ) comprise a central part ( 15 ) and two lateral supports ( 16, 16′ ) arranged on either side of the central part ( 15 ). According to the invention, the flexible strip ( 23 ) is configured to cover at least the upper or lower side of the central part ( 15 ) of each link ( 14 ) so that the said strip ( 23 ) forms the totality or virtually the totality of the visible upper or lower part of the strand ( 10, 10′ ).

The present invention relates to the field of watch- and clockmaking, and more particularly to a wristwatch bracelet comprising a plurality of links cooperating with a flexible strip.

Bracelets are already known to the person skilled in the art which comprise links cooperating with a flexible strip. By way of example, patent publication CH574720 discloses a watch bracelet consisting of two series of links, each series forcing a strand. The links are articulated with one another and are transversely profiled in the form of a small arch in such a way as to present at least one longitudinal hollow, open towards the bottom as well as at the two ends of each link. The alignment of these hollows forms, beneath each of the two strands, a groove which extends longitudinally beneath all the links of this strand. For each of the strands, a leaf spring is arranged within the links, between the apex of the said hollows and retaining means arranged between the lateral parts of the arch profile of the links to retain the strip. This strip has a curvature which it has a tendency to communicate to all the links forming the strand on which it is positioned, to induce it to close together. The first link in each strand, or one end of each strip is connected to the watch-case in such a way that the two strands are capable of elastically gripping a wrist bearing the watch, without a clasp device.

The aim of the leaf spring according to the invention disclosed in CH574720 is therefore to elastically grip a wrist bearing the watch, without a clasp device.

The aim of the present invention is to propose a bracelet for a timepiece comprising two strands each provided with a flexible strip the arrangement of which both enables the links to be secured to one another and allows the aesthetic appearance of the strands of the bracelet to be improved.

According to the invention, this aim is achieved with a strand of a bracelet for a timepiece. The strand comprises both a plurality of links articulated relative to one another and a flexible strip which is disposed so as to be connected to each of said links. The latter comprise a central part and two lateral supports arranged on either side of the central part. The flexible strip is configured to cover at least the upper or lower side of the central part of each link so that the said strip forms the totality or virtually the totality of the visible upper or lower part of the strand.

The features of the invention will become clearer from reading the description of a preferred embodiment, which is non-limiting and is provided solely by way of example, with reference to the diagrams, wherein:

FIG. 1 represents a perspective view of a first strand and a partially exploded view of a second strand of a bracelet of a watch according to the invention;

FIG. 2 represents a cross-sectional view of a segment of one of the strands of the bracelet without the flexible strip;

FIG. 3 represents a view similar to FIG. 2 with the flexible strip;

FIG. 4 represents a partial sectional view of a strand of the bracelet in the direction of its length;

FIG. 5 represents a perspective view of one of the links partially forming the strand;

FIG. 6 represents a perspective view of a watch comprising the bracelet provided with two links according to the invention, and

FIG. 7 represents a perspective view of the watch on the clasp side of the bracelet.

According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, and with particular reference to FIG. 7, the bracelet comprises a first and a second link 10, 10′, one of the ends of which has a fastener 11, 11′ adapted for being connected to a clasp of the deployment buckle type (not illustrated) whereas the other end is connected on either side of a watch-case 13, as illustrated in FIG. 6.

Each strand 10, 10′ comprises a plurality of links 14 which are articulated to one another, as can be seen in particular in FIG. 7 and which forms virtually the totality of the length of the strand. With reference to FIG. 5, each link 14 comprises a central part 15 arranged between two lateral supports 16, 16′ which can assume a variety of aesthetic appearances.

The central part 15 of each link 14 comprises both a rod 17 each end of which is integral with the respective lateral support 16, 16′ of the link 14 and a structure configured to receive the rod 17 of an adjacent link in order to ensure articulation between the links, but nevertheless without ensuring a reliable connection between the latter. This structure comprises rectilinear part 18 which extends between the two lateral supports 16, 16′ and which terminates at each end with a projection 19 comprising a substantially rectangular planar surface. The inner sides of the two lateral supports 16, 16′ each comprise a rectilinear groove 20 arranged at the level of the planar surface of the respective projection 19 of the structure. The latter further comprises a small bar 21 which is arranged in parallel with its rectilinear part 18 and which comprises three shoulders 21 a, 21 b and 21 c arranged at its centre and at its ends. The small bar 21 is connected, by its ends, to the projections 19 by an inwardly curved portion 22 intended to receive the ends of the rod 17 of the adjacent link 14. With particular reference to FIG. 4, each link 14 comprises a base plate 14′ juxtaposed with the base plates 14′ of the adjacent links 14.

With reference to FIG. 2, a virtually continuous groove along the entire length of the strand 10, 10′ is obtained when the links 14 are connected to one another and rest on a planar surface. The rectangular flexible strip 23 is then fixed on top of the central part 15 of the links 14, as can be seen in FIG. 3. More particularly, the lateral edges of one end of this strip 23 are adjusted with respect to the grooves 20 of the link forming the end of the strand, and the said strip 23 is then slid along the length of the virtually continuous groove formed by the interconnected links 14 when they are resting on a planar surface. One end of the strip 23 is introduced into a seat 24 of corresponding shape situated within the fastening 11, 11′, whereas the other end of the strip 23 is appropriately attached to the watch-case 13. The projections 19 and the shoulders 21 a, 21 b and 21 c ensure seating adapted to this strip 23 in order to prevent the latter from deforming locally under the action of inappropriate pressure. In one variant, the flexible strip 23 covers not only the central part 15 of the links 14 but also their lateral supports 16, 16′.

The properties of the strip 23 of each strand 10, 10′ must be determined in such a way that it is able to bend sufficiently to match a portion of the circumference of the wrist of the wearer of the watch, but nevertheless without its elastic properties deteriorating over time. The strip 23 has a thickness of about two tenths of a millimetre and may be made of any metal or of polymer but preferably precious metal such as gold, platinum or silver.

This flexible strip 23 thus allows securing of the links 14 relative to one another in a reliable manner and improves the aesthetic appearance of the strand by covering the means of articulation the links.

In this preferred embodiment of the invention, the strip 23 is disposed the length of the upper side of each strand 10, 10′ in such a way as to be visible when the watch comprising the bracelet is on the wrist of the wearer whereas the base plates 14′ of the links 14 are in contact with the skin of the wearer. In another embodiment (not illustrated), the strip 23 is disposed the length of the inner side of each strand 10, 10′ in such a way as to be in contact with the skin of the wearer when the base plates 14′ of the links 14 are visible. 

1. Strand (10, 10′) of a bracelet for a timepiece, the strand (10, 10′) comprising, on the one hand, a plurality of links (14) articulated relative to one another and, on the other hand, a flexible strip (23) disposed so as to be connected to each of said links (14), said links (14) comprising a central part (15) and two lateral supports (16, 16′) arranged on each side of the central part (15), characterised in that the flexible strip (23) is configured to cover at least the upper or lower side of the central part (15) of each link (14) so that said strip (23) forms the totality or virtually the totality of the visible upper or lower part of the strand (10, 10′).
 2. Strand (10, 10′) according to claim 1, characterised in that the two lateral supports (16, 16′) of each link (14) each comprise a groove (20) arranged to receive the lateral edges of the flexible strip (23).
 3. Strand (10, 10′) according to claim 1, characterised in that the central part (15) of each link (14) comprises a rod (17) extending between the two lateral supports (16, 16′), as well as a structure in which the rod (17) of an adjacent link (14) is arranged, the flexible strip (23) specifically extending above said structure of each link (14) in order to secure them to one another.
 4. Strand (10, 10′) according to claim 3, characterised in that said structure comprises projections (19, 21 a, 21 b, 21 c) arranged so as to come into contact with the flexible strip (23) in order to prevent the latter from deforming locally under the action of inappropriate pressure.
 5. Strand (10, 10′) according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises, at one of its ends, a fastener (12, 12′) adapted for being connected to a clasp, the fastener (12, 12′) comprising a seat (20) in which one of the ends of the flexible strip (23) is arranged.
 6. Bracelet of a timepiece comprising a clasp preferably having a deployment buckle, the clasp being connected to the fasteners (12, 12′) of a first and second strand according to claim
 5. 7. Timepiece comprising the bracelet according to claim
 6. 